MANILA — James Laput is moving to a new team in just his second conference in the PBA after being shipped by the Terrafirma Dyip to Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots on Thursday.
Based on the trade deal approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office on Thursday, Laput is headed to the Hotshots in exchange for reserve players Justin Melton and Kyle Pascual to the Dyip.
The 6-foot-10 Laput, a former De La Salle University Green Archers slotman, was a first-round selection by the Dyip during the PBA Rookie Draft earlier this year.
Laput averaged 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in just one conference with the Dyip and will be considered as a project player when he joins the Hotshots in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Laput’s transfer to the Hotshots did not come as a surprise. It was reported before that Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero is targeting him to fill the center position in the squad.
Melton and Pascual, on the other hand, were hoping to revive their respective careers with the Dyip after being both reserve players for the Hotshots the past few seasons.
Melton has been with the Hotshots since he entered PBA in 2012 and was part of the franchise’s grand slam team in 2014. Pascual started his career with the Dyip franchise before being shipped to Magnolia.
Meanwhile, Simon Camacho is finally having his PBA dream realized after being picked up by the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters from free agency on Thursday.
The former Adamson University Falcons center caught the eye of the Fuel Masters coaching staff after being named as MVP in the just-concluded FilBasket tournament.
Camacho, who was drafted by the TNT Tropang Giga in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft, averaged 14.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.6 block shots for Medical Depot in FilBasket./PN
